POLICE are hunting a convicted fraudster who is accused of targeting fresh victims - including a Swindon woman - just a month after being released from prison.

Peter Berry has been recalled to prison after being accused of stealing tens of thousands of pounds from new victims after being released on licence in September 2012.

Just a month later, he is accused of tricking a 43-year-old woman from Swindon into lending him £20,000 for an investment before disappearing.

A second woman, from Southampton, claims she was persuaded to lend him £18,000, while a 63-year-old woman from East Preston says she handed him £15,000 to invest for her.

Those women have also never heard from Berry since.

The 48-year-old was sentenced to 63 months in prison at Truro Crown Court in May 2010 after he pleaded guilty to 19 fraud offences.

He conned women around the world out of hundreds of thousands of pounds after tricking his way into their hearts, then emptying their bank accounts.

In some cases after starting relationships with women he stole their identities to take out bank and car loans.

He also used his elderly mother's identity to forge credit card and loan applications and racked up debts on her own cards.

Berry, who also uses the names John Keady, Jay Smith, James Smith, Dr James Smith and Taz Keady, was recalled to serve the remainder of his term in November last year after he was linked to two new fraud offences committed since he left prison.

After his release, Berry moved to a flat in Sea Lane, East Preston.

Officers have been following lines of inquiry across the country but have so far been unable to track him down.

Detective Constable Kev Reay said: "Berry befriends single women, often via dating sites, and lures them in to steal from them.

"He tells them extravagant lies like saying he needs money to help friends trapped in the Himalayas, that he holds a world record in kayaking and that he worked on a lifeboat and was given a bravery award.

"None of those things are true.

"He makes a habit of joining yacht clubs or other water sports teams, possibly with a view to finding more victims. The likelihood is that he is still targeting women for money.

"We need to find anyone who has been in contact with him or who could have any information at all.

"There could be women who have been defrauded by him but who have been too embarrassed to come forward before now. I would urge them to contact us so we can bring Berry to justice and prevent more women falling foul of him."

Anyone with information should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 1530 of 29/11, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.